This fried, sweet snack can be found anywhere. It’s loved by people across the globe and can be made easily at home, or purchased at bakeries or supermarkets. But while humans treat themselves to this confectionery, can cats eat donuts, too?
You know the moment you decide to go on a diet is when you’ve eaten too many donuts. The reason for this is that donuts are high in sugar. And the surplus of sugar in these treats can be detrimental to your cat’s health.
Ingredients present in donuts
Donuts aren’t the best choice for food when it comes to people, let alone cats. The ingredients found in these sweet goods can be a potential health hazard. Humans are known to develop health issues by eating junk food like this.
Apart from the main ingredients, donuts also contain natural and artificial flavorings. Moreover, this fried dough that comes in various shapes is injected with various sweet fillings.
1. Dough
Donuts are made out of leavened fried dough. The dough is safe for cats in moderation, but not raw, of course. However, leavened dough can be a problem for your pet. Eating dough could make your cat bloated and leave her with constipation issues.
2. Oil
Fried dough is full of oil that your cat can’t digest. Oil could make your feline suffer from stomachache and result in vomiting or diarrhea. If you’re making something that includes oil, coconut, or olive oil is probably the best option.
The consumption of olive oil in cats isn’t considered to be toxic. A few tablespoons of olive oil weekly, won’t hurt your furkid. But given the fact that donuts are fried in oil, the amount is probably too much for your cat.
3. Eggs
Eggs are oftentimes one of the main ingredients while making dough. Although eggs are rich in protein which is a need for cats, raw eggs can’t be a part of their diet. Raw eggs can carry bacteria, such as salmonella or E.coli.
Even though raw ones are off-limits, properly boiled eggs are a valued treat in your feline’s diet. Full of proteins, boiled eggs are beneficial to your cat’s health. The occasional boiled egg would be a perfect treat for your kitten.
4. Milk
Cats drinking milk is a common misconception, although they are adorable with their whiskers soaked in milk. The reason behind this is that most felines are in fact lactose intolerant.
This means they are unable to break down the sugar contained in milk. Because their intestines lack the enzymes needed for lactose digestion, cats can face some problems. The inability of milk digestion usually causes diarrhea.
If offering your cat this dairy product, try opting for the lactose-free version. It will be easier on your furbaby’s stomach and won’t cause her as much discomfort.
5. Sugar
Humans use sugar every day. Some more, some less, but it’s still an important ingredient in the kitchen. Some can’t drink their coffee without it, and some will pass on certain foods that lack sugar.
However, this isn’t the case with cats. Your cat may be tempted to give it a lick or two, but just because she saw you do it. Cats are sweet-blind. This term indicates their lack of taste buds and inability to taste sweetness.
While this may make you sad, don’t be. It’s a good thing felines aren’t attracted to sweets. Not having a sweet tooth like humans can save them from lots of troubles. Excess and regular intake of sugar can lead to health problems.
Don’t inspire your feline to eat sugar, whatsoever. The side effects can come in terms of obesity, diabetes, or dental problems. Felines’ lack of receptors is doing them a favor. In this case, less is more.
Can cats eat donut fillings?
No one likes dry, flavorless donuts, right? Donuts are so much better with fillings, I’m sure we can all agree on that. But what about cats, can they eat donuts with fillings?
There are many fillings, but the most common ones are fruit preserves, custard, or cream. Fruit preserves are preparations of fruit and are rich in sugar. Marmalades, jams, and jellies are the most common sweet fruit preserves found in donuts.
Once more, the high sugar content is an unfortunate case for cats. When it comes to custard, cats should avoid it. Custard is dairy-based, as is sweetened milk and cheese.
The name gives the cream fillings away. The cream skimmed from the top of the milk is a higher-fat layer. Similar to this is sour and whipped cream. Regardless, cats and dairy products don’t go well together, as previously explained.
What about donut toppings?
Fried dough and filling sometimes just aren’t enough. What really makes these sweets special are their toppings. These sweets may be topped with cinnamon, sprinkles, powdered sugar, or glazed with chocolate and sugar icing.
1. Cinnamon
This strong fragrance might be appealing to our nose, but to cats’, not so much. In large quantities, cinnamon can be poisonous to felines because of the coumarin, an ingredient found in cinnamon.
It’s often used as a cat deterrent because of its strong smell. Cinnamon poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation, or skin exposure.
2. Sprinkles
Sprinkles serve as colorful decorations for many desserts, including donuts. This topping is widely known and most popular among children. Have you ever wished to throw a birthday party for your furkid and add some sprinkles for a better look?
Pass on those. The reason your pet’s cake should be left undecorated by these tiny candies is the sugar quantity. While she won’t drop dead from one or two of these colorful candies, don’t let her enjoy them frequently.
3. Powdered sugar and sugar icing
The name itself screams no. A few licks of powdered sugar and sugar icing probably won’t harm your cat. However, it’s best if your feline skips on them. Some arising issues of abundant and regular intake of sugar include diabetes, tooth decay, and obesity.
Excess thirst and urination in cats can be the first signs of diabetes. If you notice any signs of diabetes, make sure to take a quick trip to your vet. Tooth decay and other dental problems are also possible if your pet has everyday access to sugar.
Chubby floofs might be a cute sight, but the health risks are enormous. Heart diseases and joint problems become a painful reality when cats put on extra pounds. And sugar can be the main factor for these issues.
4. Chocolate and maple glazing
Unfortunately for cats, chocolate is poisonous. The compound theobromine is what makes chocolate inedible for cats. It’s possible that chocolate doesn’t attract your fluff because of her lack of taste buds.
Keep this in mind the next time you open up a box of chocolate or prepare chocolate glazing for donuts. Keep your donuts on the highest shelf of the pantry, because cats can’t eat those. Too much sugar combined with fillings and chocolate is definitely not a good choice of treats for your feline.
When it comes to maple glazing, this sweetener isn’t toxic for cats, but it isn’t suitable for their diet either. Lots of carbohydrates contained in maple syrup won’t benefit your feline. Moreover, it can be damaging to their well-being.
A few bites aren’t life-threatening, but cats can’t eat donuts with icing or topping because it could cause intestinal problems.
Can cats eat Krispy Kreme donuts?
The short answer to this question is no. Cats can’t eat Krispy Kreme donuts because sugar icing is used on the majority of them. Donuts contain a lot of sugar themselves and topped with some more powdered or glazed sugar is just too much.
Cats are simple creatures, even if sometimes it doesn’t seem so. What isn’t natural for them won’t suit them. It’s as simple as that. One of the reasons cats can’t eat donuts is carbohydrates.
Felines need animal protein to keep them healthy and satisfied. Carbohydrates don’t play an important role in their diet. They don’t hold any beneficial health to your pet whatsoever. Carbohydrates such as sugar will give your cat’s metabolism and digestive system a hard time.
So, in addition to having no nutritional value, sugar can only have a bad impact on your kitty.
What about raisin donuts?
Raisin donuts are a hard no for cats. While the combination of these two can bring joy to your taste buds, they’re highly poisonous to your feline. Just one raisin can cause kidney failure in cats.
Can cats eat Munchkins donuts?
The name is sweet and the taste even sweeter. The most famous shape of donuts is the ring shape with a hole in the middle, and that’s how they invented Munchkins – by using the excess dough from the middle to make this recognizable shape!
Munchkins donuts are bite-sized delicacies, suitable for both children and adults. However, Munchkins aren’t suitable for cats because of their overabundance of sugar. Another reason cats can’t eat Munchkins is the flavors. Among many, the flavors include chocolate, which is toxic to cats, and glazed, which could lead to various health issues.
Can cats eat candy?
Candy may be a treat for humans, but cats should avoid them. Candies have too much concentrated sugar, which can negatively impact their metabolism and digestive system. Lots of artificial flavors could leave your cat with health conditions and rotten teeth.
Xylitol, a common sweetener found in products such as gum and sweets, can cause vomiting, lethargy, and liver failure in pets.
If she grabs a hold of a piece of candy, there’s no need for instant panic. But for the sake of her health and your sanity, keep candy sealed tight in a jar and away from your pet(s).
What can happen if cats eat donuts?
A few bites of a tasty donut or a lick of the icing won’t send your kitty to the ER. Nonetheless, you should keep these delicacies out of your fluff’s reach.
Cats can’t eat donuts because of their ingredients. Sugar, dough, natural and artificial flavors aren’t natural to your cat’s diet. And food that isn’t digestible by a carnivore certainly won’t benefit her.
Yet, your cat may be one of the oddballs. She could actually have a sweet tooth, and you might want to take precautionary measures. A larger or more frequent intake of donuts could be harmful to your pet.
Especially if your favorite ones are with chocolate, cinnamon, or raisins. Mild symptoms of digestive problems will involve vomiting and diarrhea.
But in some more serious conditions, like chocolate toxicity, watch out for seizures and tremors. If your cat starts to display any of these, take an emergency trip to the vet.
Read more: Can Cats Eat Caramel? Should You Avoid This Sugary Treat?
Bottom line
Don’t encourage your pet to eat donuts. With high amounts of carbohydrates and no health benefits, they aren’t the safest option for your cat.
Although the donut itself isn’t poisonous, some toppings or fillings might be. We hope you don’t have a hard time making this decision.
When choosing between those big, round eyes and their health, always choose the latter. Your fluff will be forever grateful, as will your wallet.
Read more: Can Cats Eat Jelly? Do They Even Like This Treat?
